Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI518-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCALI518-1’, characterized by its outwardly to low spreading growth habit; compact plant habit; semi-double red purple-colored flowers with darker red purple-colored centers; good garden performance; and resistance to  Thielaviopsis .

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCALI518-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCALI518-1’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new double-flowered Calibrachoa cultvars with attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 17, 2005 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C360-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C376-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany on Apr. 6, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since Apr. 6, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar USCALI518-1 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCALI518-1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCALI518-1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Outwardly to low spreading growth habit; compact plant habit.     -   2. Semi-double red purple-colored flowers with darker red         purple-colored centers.     -   3. Good garden performance.     -   4. Resistant to Thielaviopsis.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as creeping as plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower form as plants of the female parent selection         occasionally have semi-double flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading         than and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower form as plants of the male parent occasionally         have semi-double flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunbelchipi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,355. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Sunbelchipi in flower form as plants of the cultivar Sunbelchipi had single flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Kakegawa S8, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,508. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Kakegawa S8 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were not as creeping as plants         of the cultivar Kakegawa S8.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Kakegawa S8         differed in flower form as plants of the cultivar Kakegawa S8         had single flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCALI518-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of a typical flower of ‘USCALI518-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranging from 13° C. to 24° C. Rooted young plants were grown for about five weeks with one plant per 10-cm container. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar USCALI518-1. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C360-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C376-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly to low spreading, compact             growth habit. Freely branching habit with about four to five             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             lateral branches; pinching is typically not required.             Vigorous growth habit and moderately rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 27 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 9 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to nearly round.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute pubescence.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 144A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 146A; venation, 146C. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 146B; venation, 146D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence. Color, upper             surface: 146B. Color, lower surface: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Semi-double salverform flowers             arranged singly arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering             habit with usually about 15 to 16 open flowers and flower             buds per lateral branch. Flowers persistent. Flowers face             upright to mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about four weeks after             planting. Plants flower continuously from April to October             in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flower last about five to seven             days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm by 6 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: Slightly more pale lavender             than 201D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet; one or two central petaloids.             Petal length from throat: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width:             About 1.1 cm. Petal shape: Roughly obovate. Petal apex:             Rounded to slightly cordate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, velvety. Throat             texture: Smooth, velvety. Tube texture: Minute pubescence.             Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: 70A to 70B.             Petal, when opening, lower surface: 75C to 75D. Petal, fully             opened, upper surface: 70C; at the throat, 71A; midvein,             71B; lateral veins, 70A; with development, towards the             margins, 75B. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: More grey             than 75D; venation, 148B. Throat: 5C; venation, 148C. Tube:             194B to 194C; venation, 148B. Petaloid (modified stamens):             Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Roughly ovoid,             irregular. Apex: Roughly rounded. Margin: Entire to slightly             sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, velvety.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 78A to 78B;             towards the base, 85C to 85D. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: 78A to 78B; towards the base, 85C to 85D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             9 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly             lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence. Color,             upper surface: 137A. Color, lower surface: 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 60° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Minute pubescence. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             three to four per flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: 8A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 9 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: 144B.             Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 144A. Ovary color: 144D.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to Thielaviopsis. Plants of the new     Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI518-1’ as illustrated and described. 